Attempts to immortalise the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, have sparked controversy, with members of his family and close friends expressing disappointment over a bust erected in his honour.

The bust, unveiled at a cenotaph in front of the Ministry of Defence in Accra to mark the first anniversary of Dr Omane Boamah’s death, is said by people who knew him closely to bear no resemblance to the late minister.

A lifelong friend of Dr Omane Boamah, who was his schoolmate at Pope John Senior High School, has told The Herald that the bust should be removed and redone because it does not accurately depict the man they knew and loved.

According to the friend, the concerns over the artwork are widespread among those who knew the former Defence Minister, including his family, and leaving it in place would defeat the very purpose of the memorial.

“The bust must be removed and redone. It does not depict him. Otherwise, in years to come, it will not serve any purpose because it is not him,” the friend told The Herald.

The friend said the memorial should reflect an accurate likeness of Dr Omane Boamah, arguing that the monument was intended to preserve his memory for generations.

The concerns were also evident at the unveiling ceremony on August 6, 2026, when President John Dramani Mahama unveiled the cenotaph in honour of the late Defence Minister.

Photographs from the ceremony showed the President, as well as Dr Omane Boamah’s mother, Madam Leticia Asante, examining the artwork to make sense of it as they tried to find him.

There are claims that the cenotaph was donated to the Government and people of Ghana specifically in honour of Dr Omane Boamah. The identity of the donor, however, remains unknown.

Beyond the controversy over the likeness of the bust, questions have also been raised about the decision to erect a cenotaph dedicated solely to Dr Omane Boamah when seven other people died in the same helicopter crash.

The seven were Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed; NDC National Vice Chairman, Dr Samuel Sarpong; former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye; Flight Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; and Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu.

Critics argue that if all eight victims have been described as patriots and heroes who died in the line of duty, then a national memorial should have commemorated all eight rather than singling out Dr Omane Boamah.

The eight died on August 6, 2025, when a Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Z-9 helicopter crashed in a forested area within the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

The delegation was travelling from Accra to Obuasi to attend the official launch of the Government’s Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), an initiative aimed at combating illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

At the ceremony to unveil the cenotaph, President Mahama paid an emotional tribute to Dr Omane Boamah, describing him as “one of a rare kind”.

“His immortalising is personal for me. Omane was a great human being. His kind is difficult to find in our world today. His love for me is undoubted; he was a friend, a loyalist, and a close adviser. He stood by my side all through my political career. His service to the nation will never be forgotten,” the President said.

He also expressed the nation’s sympathies to the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.

President Mahama subsequently lit a memorial candle on behalf of the nation in honour of Dr Omane Boamah and the seven other victims.

Vice-President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang lit a candle on behalf of the Armed Forces Council, while the Minister for Finance and caretaker Defence Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, lit one on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

The ceremony, organised by the Ministry of Defence, was attended by government officials, members of the GAF, clergy, relatives, friends, colleagues and other dignitaries.

The unveiling followed a National Inter-Faith Memorial Service held earlier at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), to commemorate all eight victims of the August 6, 2025 helicopter crash.

The service brought together government officials, religious leaders, traditional authorities, members of the GAF, bereaved families, and other dignitaries.

Religious leaders offered prayers and messages of comfort, while urging Ghanaians to preserve the values and legacy of the deceased through lives of service and sacrifice.

Addressing the gathering, President Mahama said the lessons from the tragedy must never be forgotten and urged leaders to strengthen institutions, improve safety standards, and safeguard those who serve the country.

He said every decision taken by public officials had consequences for people’s lives and described public office as a sacred trust rather than merely a position of authority.

“Today should also be a moment of reflection for all of us who are entrusted with leadership, that every decision we make affects lives. Every public office is ultimately a sacred trust,” he said.

The President said the memory of the victims imposed a solemn obligation on the nation to build stronger institutions, improve safety standards and invest in the welfare and protection of public servants.

“Their memory therefore imposes upon us a solemn obligation to build stronger institutions, to strengthen safety standards wherever necessary, to invest in the welfare of our personnel, and to ensure that no lesson from this tragedy will ever be forgotten,” he stated.

He added that the most enduring tribute to the victims would not be physical monuments alone, but meaningful reforms that improve governance and protect those who dedicate their lives to national service.

“The greatest memorial we can build is not one made of stone or bronze. It is one that is built through responsible leadership, improved systems, and a steadfast commitment to protecting those who dedicate their lives to Ghana,” President Mahama said.

The commemorative activities formed part of a nationwide observance to honour the service, sacrifice and legacy of the eight individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty.